A DORSET woman whose three nephews all suffer from life-threatening type 1 diabetes is preparing to run the London Marathon to help fund vital research into the condition.

Kim Legg, of Milborne St Andrew, is auntie to Dylan, 15, Oliver, 10 and eight-year-old Corbin, who all rely on insulin pumps to regulate their blood sugars and stay alive.

The boys, who live in Bournemouth, are among 29,000 children who suffer from type 1 diabetes, which is now more common than meningitis.

The auto-immune condition is not linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise and cannot be prevented. It normally strikes children and stays with them for the rest of their lives.

Kim said: “The boys wear this pump continuously on their bodies day and night, they have 1.5 inch pump needle cannulas changed in their tummies every two days and they do approximately eight to 14 blood sugar finger tests a day and two to four finger tests during the night.

“Each time they eat food they need to carbohydrate count and give themselves insulin via their pump or as an injection. They deal with life-threatening low blood sugars and life-limiting high blood sugars every day and every night.

“At night they are frequently woken at least once either to drink sugar if their blood sugar is low or for a pump needle change if their blood sugar is high.”

Kim will be one of almost 200 people running the marathon in aid of JDRF, the type 1 diabetes charity. Together they are aiming to raise more than £400,000 to support vital type 1 diabetes research.

Luan Roberts, challenge events fundraiser at JDRF, said: “Running the London Marathon is a brilliant way to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes – a serious and complex condition – while helping JDRF fund vital research.

“I wish all participants the best of luck and thank them for their incredible support.”

To sponsor Kim, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/KimLegg.